Trend Watch: Skeleton Keys

What's hot in fashion inevitably appears in other design disciplines, including interiors and graphics in time. We've seen it with a handful of recent trends: tartan and plaid, chains, birds, botanicals, skulls...the list goes on.

A crossover trend we've noticed lately appears to be skeleton keys. And why not? What a great silhouette! I first noticed them in Tiffany ads:

Klein Reid has a nice set of porcelain keys:

We're starting to see them come into the realm of clothing:

Key scarf via Shop Nasty Gal

As usual, Etsy is on-trend offering a hotbed of skeleton key imagery. A preliminary search produced tons of jewelry, t-shirts, crafts and home accessories featuring the skeleton key.

I could show you nice wall decals, but why hide my tawdry side? Instead, I give you my personal fave, a vinyl toilet graphic:

Via Etsy

The key trend is catching on a little slowly in housewares and accessories, but it's definitely there. Restoration Hardware is selling "key art" and check out this Fornasetti number:

Fornasetti sculpture via UnicaHome

Keys hit the upscale market with this paperweight at Barney's:

Urban Outfitters joined the party with a key key holder

Photo courtesy Urban Outfitters

Other than necklaces, textiles seems to be where key imagery is most prevalent right now–especially in the toss pillow realm, which most likely started with West Elm's 2008 pillow cover and quilt:

Photos courtesy Don't Call Me Eclectic

Vintage burlap skeleton key pillow via The Bella Cottage

Room Service Pillow via Pillows and Throws (also in turquoise)

Cafe Press has a ton of great options including mouse pads, wall clocks, ornaments, buttons, aprons, bibs, bags, greeting cards, t-shirts, water bottles and, of course, PILLOWS:

Via Cafe Press

Via Etsy.com

Key tea towels via Etsy

I think we'll be seeing a lot more key imagery before the trend dies down.